Composer's NotesThe piece begins with a slowly falling scale of seven notes, thrown from one player to another, repeated nine times and embellished with ornamental flurries which outline a gradually evolving harmonic pattern. The repetitive nature of the music is like a peal of bells or some other kind of evocation. Eventually the music breaks out of this cyclic inevitability and heads into a faster dance-like material which in turn develops its own ritualistic recurrences.

This piece was commissioned by the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival for the Chione Oboe Trio with funds provided by Yorkshire and Humberside Arts.

James MacMillan

Reproduction RightsThis programme note can be reproduced free of charge in concert programmes with a credit to the composer